Simulation of normal anchoring nematic droplets under electrical fields

Abstract

In this work we simulate the director configurations of a spherical nematic liquid crystal droplet under normal anchoring conditions to study the changes of the director under varying electric field sequence. The extent to which the orientational properties of the director configurations depend on the dielectric anisotropy and elasticity of liquid is discussed. Simulation results indicate that the bistability of the director configuration causes hysteresis in the transmission-applied voltage properties of a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal film. In addition, lowering the values of dielectric anisotropy to the elastic constant ratio of liquid crystal reduces hysteresis.